Ski binding

ABSTRACT

Releasable ski binding permitting longitudinal movement of the ski boot with respect to the ski. One binding, such as the rearward binding, grips a suitable fitting on the ski boot in a conventional manner both above and on both sides thereof and is arranged for resiliently opposed release upon either upward or sideward movement of the associated end of the ski boot. Adjacent the other end of the boot, such as the toe, there is provided a fitting fixed rigidly with respect to the ski and a recess is provided in the fitting. The toe of the boot is provided with a single longitudinally aligned pin which projects into said recess, preferably received into the upper portion thereof, to permit longitudinal motion between the pin and the fitting but to prevent motion in any direction perpendicular thereto. This holds the boot firmly and safely on the ski but permits relative longitudinal motion between the boot and the ski which may result if the ski bends during skiing. Such longitudinal motion is permitted without affecting or altering the accuracy of setting of the release portion of the binding.

United States Patent [191 Schweizer [4 1 Jan. 14, 1975 SKI BINDING [75]Inventor: Gottfried Schweizer, Vienna,

Austria [73] Assignee: Gertsch AG, Zug, Switzerland [22] Filed: Aug. 3,1973 [21] Appl. No.: 385,458

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 8, 1972 Austria 7698/72[52] US. Cl. 280/1135 D, 280/1135 C [51] Int. Cl A63c 9/08 [58] Field ofSearch ..280/1 1.35 C, 11.35 D,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,879,071 3/1959 King280/1135 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 583,953 10/1958 Italy..280/l1.35C 1,120,333 12/1961 Germany ..280/ll.35R

Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant ExaminerMichael Mar Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams,Blanchard and Flynn [57] ABSTRACT Releasable ski binding permittinglongitudinal movement of the ski boot with respect to the ski. Onebinding, such as the rearward binding, grips a suitable fitting on theski boot in a conventional manner both above and on both sides thereofand is arranged for resiliently opposed release upon either upward orsideward movement of the associated end of the ski boot. Adjacent theother end of the boot, such as the toe, there is provided a fittingfixed rigidly with respect to the ski and a recess is provided in thefitting. The toe of the boot is provided with a single longitudinallyaligned pin which projects into said recess, preferably received intothe upper portion thereof, to permit longitudinal motion between the pinand the fitting but to prevent motion in any direction perpendicularthereto. This holds the boot firmly and safely on the ski but permitsrelative longitudinal motion between the boot and the ski which mayresult if the ski bends during skiing, Such longitudinal motion ispermitted without affecting or altering the accuracy of setting of there-' lease portion of the binding.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmmmmms v sum 2 BF 2 FIGS SKI BINDINGFIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a ski binding consistingof a front and rear binding part each of which cooperates with a fittingwhich is arranged on the ski boot or on a bottom plate carrying the skiboot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the known bindings of this type thefittings are gripped by binding parts of which at least one, either thefront or the rear binding part, or both, are mounted on the ski formovement in longitudinal direction against a resilient force. If the skibends during skiing, then the distance between the binding parts changesand this change is compensated by such movably mounted ski binding part.However, in this arrangement there exists the disadvantage that the morethe longitudinal spring is tensioned, the more tightly the ski boot isheld between the binding parts and this presents the danger that even atequal adjustments of the release components, releases will occur atdifferent stresses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the invention is to overcomethis disadvantage and the invention is characterized in that one fittingis constructed as a pin arranged longitudinally of the ski, which pin issupported during use in a recess provided in a guide part secured on theski and the other fitting is as is now conventional gripped over andheld by the associated binding part from the side and from above.

This construction effects a release both during a fall forwardly andalso during lateral excessive stresses only through the last-namedbinding part. The other binding part is used only for guiding thepin-like fitting. If the ski bends during skiing, then the pin can slidelongitudinally in the recess of the guide part. Thus there is no springloading and as a result the holding power of the other binding part isnot changed in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The subject matter of the invention isillustrated by one embodiment thereof which is set forth in thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the entire arrangement of a ski boot on the ski,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially longitudinally sectioned view of thefront holding means,

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rear holding means,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line VV of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6is a top view similar to FIG. 4 partially in a cross-sectional viewduring the instant of a lateral release.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 the ski boot 16 is secured on a soleplate 6 in a conventional manner. Binding parts 18, 19 are mounted ontheski 17, which binding parts grip fittings 5, 15, respectively, of thesole plate 6 and thus hold the ski boot 16 on the ski 17.

The rear ski binding part 18 grips from the side and from above over thefitting 5 in such a manner that the sole plate 6 cannot movelongitudinally of the ski. The front ski binding part 19 is constructedas a guide part as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. An equilateral triangleshaped recess 20 is provided in this guide part 19, in which recess andpin-shaped fitting 15 is guided only in the upper area. The recess 20enlarges downwardly so that the fitting 15 can swing downwardly or tothe side during a fall forwardly or during a twisting fall when the rearbinding 18 releases. During stepping-in, the fitting 15 is in a simplemanner introduced into the recess 20 and the rear fitting 5 then engagesthe rear binding part 18. If during skiing the ski 17 bends and thus thedistance between the binding parts 18 and 19 changes, the pin 15 canslide in the recess 20. Thus, any change in length is compensatedwithout influencing the release mechanism. In order to achieve aslightly elastic mounting, the front guide part can be made eitherentirely, or at least in the zone of the recess, of an elastic material,for example plastic, rubber or the like. For example a sleeve containingthe recess 20 and being made of elastic material could be inserted intothe part 19.

As a rear binding part 18, various suitable known bindings can be used.As exemplary construction consists according to FIGS. 4 to 6substantially of two levers, l, 2 which are loaded by the springs 3, 4and which with their angled ends grip over the boot fitting 5 both fromthe side and also from above. The boot fitting 5 is constructed as adouble-conical swivel plate which is secured on the sole plate 6. Thesprings 3, 4 press the levers 1, 2 against two posts 7, 8 which arefixedly anchored on the base plate 9. In order to prevent a lifting ofthe entire binding, a disk 10 is secured at the upper end of the posts7, 8. The springs 3, 4 abut the one ends of support arms 11, 12 whichare supported with their other ends on the levers l, 2. In their centralzone the support arms 11, 12 are held against the levers 1, 2 throughthe screw 14 and the nut 13.

FIG. '6 shows the sole plate 6 moved to the side. The levers 1, 2 arethereupon also pivoted. Since the posts 7, 8 are positioned between thelevers this movement urges the levers apart against the force of thesprings 3, 4. The illustration shows the moment of the release. If aforce occurs in an upward direction, for example due to a fallforwardly, then the fitting 5 is pulled upwardly and the two levers 1, 2are similarly moved apart. FIG. 5 shows in cross-sectional view how thetwo levers l, 2 grip from above over the fitting 5.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment herein shown. A number ofother possible embodiments exist which lie within the scope of theinvention.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood thatvariations or modifications thereof which lie within the scope of theappended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a ski binding having a front and a rear binding part mounted on aski each being adapted to cooperate with means on one of a ski boot anda bottom plate on which a ski boot is mounted for effecting a releasablesecurement of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate to said ski,the improvement comprising wherein one of said front and rear bindingparts includes means defining an elongated pin mounted on one end of oneof said ski boot and said bottom plate and extending parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said ski and means defining a recess mounted onsaid ski and adapted to receive said pin therein for longitudinalsliding movement with respect thereto, and wherein the other of saidfront and rear binding parts includes securement means (I) forreleasably holding the other end of one of said ski boot and said bottomplate against at least a lateral movement and (2) for preventing alongitudinal movement of one of said ski boot and said bottom platerelative to said ski whereby the permitted relative movement betweensaid pin and said recess means will thereby facilitate a bending of saidski without varying the force holding one of said ski boot and said bootplate onto said ski.

2. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said one endis the toe of said one of said ski boot and said bottom plate.

3. The improved ski binding according to claim 2, wherein said recess istriangular in shape and said pin means is positioned at an apex thereofwhen said one of said ski boot and said bottom plate are longitudinallyaligned with said longitudinal axis of said ski.

4. The improved ski binding according to claim 3, wherein saidtriangular shaped recess is an equilateral triangle; and

wherein the base of said equilateral triangular shaped recess extendsparallel to the top surface of said ski; and

wherein said apex is the uppermost one of said angles of said triangularshaped recess.

5. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said meansdefining a recess includes means made of an elastic material at leastsurrounding said recess.

6. The improved ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said recessincludes means defining an upper narrow region and a wide lower region;and

wherein said pin means is positioned in said upper narrow region whensaid one of said ski boot and said bottom plate are longitudinallyaligned with said longitudinal axis of said ski. 7. The improved skibinding according to claim 1, wherein said securement means is alsoadapted to releasably secure said other end against a vertical movement.

8. A releasable ski binding for use with ski boot means consisting ofone of a ski boot and a bottom plate on which said ski boot is mounted,comprising:

first and second longitudinally spaced binding parts mounted on a skiand on opposite ends of said ski boot means to effect an engagement ofthe ends of said ski boot means with said ski;

one of said first and second binding parts including means defining anelongated pin extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said skiand means defining a recess adapted to receive said pin means thereinfor longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, for releasablyholding one of said ends of said ski boot means on said ski, said pinmeans being mounted on one of said ski and said ski boot means and saidmeans defining a recess being mounted on the other of said ski and saidski boot means; and

the other of said first and second binding parts including securementmeans (1) for releasably holding the other of said ends of said ski bootmeans remote from said one of said first and second binding partsagainst at least a lateral movement and (2) for preventing alongitudinal movement of said ski boot means relative to said ski.

9. A releasable ski binding according to claim 8, wherein said firstbinding part engages the toe end of said ski boot means and said secondbinding part engages the heel end of said ski boot means.

10. A releasable ski binding according to claim 9, wherein said pinmeans is mounted on said toe end of said ski boot means and said meansdefining a recess is mounted on said ski. 7

11. A releasable ski binding according to claim 8, wherein saidsecurement means is also adapted to releasably secure said one of saidends remote from said one of said first and second binding parts againsta vertical movement.

1. In a ski binding having a front and a rear binding part mounted on aski each being adapted to cooperate with means on one of a ski boot anda bottom plate on which a ski boot is mounted for effecting a releasablesecurement of one of said ski boot and said bottom plate to said ski,the improvement comprising wherein one of said front and rear bindingparts includes means defining an elongated pin mounted on one end of oneOf said ski boot and said bottom plate and extending parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said ski and means defining a recess mounted onsaid ski and adapted to receive said pin therein for longitudinalsliding movement with respect thereto, and wherein the other of saidfront and rear binding parts includes securement means (1) forreleasably holding the other end of one of said ski boot and said bottomplate against at least a lateral movement and (2) for preventing alongitudinal movement of one of said ski boot and said bottom platerelative to said ski whereby the permitted relative movement betweensaid pin and said recess means will thereby facilitate a bending of saidski without varying the force holding one of said ski boot and said bootplate onto said ski.
 2. The improved ski binding according to claim 1,wherein said one end is the toe of said one of said ski boot and saidbottom plate.
 3. The improved ski binding according to claim 2, whereinsaid recess is triangular in shape and said pin means is positioned atan apex thereof when said one of said ski boot and said bottom plate arelongitudinally aligned with said longitudinal axis of said ski.
 4. Theimproved ski binding according to claim 3, wherein said triangularshaped recess is an equilateral triangle; and wherein the base of saidequilateral triangular shaped recess extends parallel to the top surfaceof said ski; and wherein said apex is the uppermost one of said anglesof said triangular shaped recess.
 5. The improved ski binding accordingto claim 1, wherein said means defining a recess includes means made ofan elastic material at least surrounding said recess.
 6. The improvedski binding according to claim 1, wherein said recess includes meansdefining an upper narrow region and a wide lower region; and whereinsaid pin means is positioned in said upper narrow region when said oneof said ski boot and said bottom plate are longitudinally aligned withsaid longitudinal axis of said ski.
 7. The improved ski bindingaccording to claim 1, wherein said securement means is also adapted toreleasably secure said other end against a vertical movement.
 8. Areleasable ski binding for use with ski boot means consisting of one ofa ski boot and a bottom plate on which said ski boot is mounted,comprising: first and second longitudinally spaced binding parts mountedon a ski and on opposite ends of said ski boot means to effect anengagement of the ends of said ski boot means with said ski; one of saidfirst and second binding parts including means defining an elongated pinextending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski and meansdefining a recess adapted to receive said pin means therein forlongitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, for releasablyholding one of said ends of said ski boot means on said ski, said pinmeans being mounted on one of said ski and said ski boot means and saidmeans defining a recess being mounted on the other of said ski and saidski boot means; and the other of said first and second binding partsincluding securement means (1) for releasably holding the other of saidends of said ski boot means remote from said one of said first andsecond binding parts against at least a lateral movement and (2) forpreventing a longitudinal movement of said ski boot means relative tosaid ski.
 9. A releasable ski binding according to claim 8, wherein saidfirst binding part engages the toe end of said ski boot means and saidsecond binding part engages the heel end of said ski boot means.
 10. Areleasable ski binding according to claim 9, wherein said pin means ismounted on said toe end of said ski boot means and said means defining arecess is mounted on said ski.
 11. A releasable ski binding according toclaim 8, wherein said securement means is also adapted to releasablysecure said one of said ends remote from said one of said first andsecond binding parts against a vertical movement.